Laura Lea Sims (56) died in a car accident as she travelled from her home in Peoria, Arizona to be with family in Ohio. The tragedy occurred on Saturday, July 16, 2022, just 30 minutes from her sister’s home in Springfield, Missouri.

She was born on February 26, 1966 in Marion, Indiana, to Charles Kessler Sims and Shirley Smith Sims. She graduated from Jessamine County High School and Asbury College, and received master’s degrees from both Western Kentucky University and Liberty University.

After college, Laura Lea followed her conviction and passion to serve the Native American population of the Phoenix area. She joined World Gospel Mission, and became a teacher and counselor at a school just outside the city, where she fell in love with her students, and the southwestern desert. Laura Lea spent her entire career partnering and serving in that area, finally teaching history at the American Indian College in Phoenix. As much as she loved her family, she knew that her life was to be invested in Arizona, and joyfully knitted hers to students, co-workers and neighbors.

In addition to family and friends, Laura Lea loved her cats, a Corgi named “Penny”, Hollow Rock Campmeeting, good books, good movies, unceasing music, and scrumptious flavors. Above all else, she loved Christ and walked with him. Laura Lea leaves a multitude who loved her, among those are her mother, two sisters, a brother, four nephews, two nieces, one great-nephew, one great-niece, uncles, aunts and a myriad of cousins. Her father predeceased her on April 30, 2022.

These and others who knew and loved her will come together to celebrate her life at the Wilmore Free Methodist Church on Saturday, July 23 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family believes Laura Lea would be grateful for any contributions made to World Gospel Mission, or Hollow Rock Campmeeting.